Short slope leading to cliff (4)
I believe the answer is:
scar
'cliff' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'short slope' is the wordplay.
'short' means to remove the last letter.
'slope' becomes 'scarp' (I have seen 'slippery slope' mean 'scarp' so perhaps 'slope' could also mean 'scarp').
'scarp' with its final letter taken off is 'SCAR'.
'leading to' is the link.
(Other definitions for scar that I've seen before include "sign of damage" , "Mark of healed cut" , "Sign of old injury" , "Mark left on healed tissue" , "Nasty mark" .)